World War II Honoree

William Aylor Berry

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ripley, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS AN ATTORNEY IN PAYNE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA AND JOINED THE NAVAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AS AN ENSIGN. WAS SERVING IN MANILA IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN THE U.S. ENTERED THE WAR. CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE ARMY IN THE FALL OF CORREGIDOR ON MAY 6, 1942 AND WAS A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 33 MONTHS. HE ESCAPED ONCE, WAS RECAPTURED, TRIED TWICE, AND PUT UNDER A DEATH SENTENCE. LIBERATED FROM BILIBID PRISON IN 1945. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 'BASE' CLASP, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND PHILIPPINE DEFENSE MEDAL. A MEMBER OF TWO UNITS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.